Clamp stick



April 13, 1943. W. A. HEINRICH) CLAMP STICK Filed Jan. 2, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W6 M ssh: I m 3 A TTOE/YfY Patented Apr. 13, 1943 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLAMP STICK Walter A. Heinrich, Richmond Heights, Mo., as-

signor to James It. Kearney Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application January 2, 1941, Serial No. 372,740

1 Claim.

This invention relates generally to clamp sticks adapted for use in applying clamps to, and detaching clamps from, overhead electrical conductors, and more specifically to an improved clamp stick of the type which includes associated elongated clamp stick members arranged andadapted for relative longitudinal movement for the purpose of operating clamp-engaging means disposed at an end of the clamp stick, the predominant object of the invention being to provide an improved clamp stick of the type mentioned which, because of its improved construction and arrangement is capable of performing its intended function in an improved and highly efficient manner.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the improved clamp stick.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the upper portion of the clamp stick shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the clamp stick as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section of the clamp stick illustrating the operating mechanism thereof.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation of the portion of the clamp stick shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a horizontal section taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary vertical sections of the upper portion of the clamp stick illustrating different positions of the clamp engaging means thereof.

In the drawings, wherein is shown for the purpose of illustration, merely, one embodiment of the invention, A designates the improved clamp stick generally. The clamp stick A includes a handle portion in the form of an elongated pole 1 formed from wood, or any other suitable electrical insulating material which will provide the required protection for a user of the clamp stick when same is being employed to -"apply clamps to, or disengage clamps from, energized electrical conductors. The lower end portion I of the handle I may be of circular or any other desired shape which would be convenient for hand gripping by users of the clamp stick, and formed in the pole l and extended longitudinally thereof from the upper end of said pole to a point located a considerable distance downwardly from said upper end of said pole, is a groove 2 having a base wall of arcuate shape (see Fig. '7). Throughout its lower portion the groove 2 is provided with a metallic lining member 3 which is disposed in contact with the arcuate base wall of the groove, there being provided at the lower end of the groove 2 a stop member 4 which is shaped to fit in the curved lower portion 2 of the groove, as shown in Fig. 5. The stop member 4 is provided with openings formed therethrough through which pass fastening elements 5 that are seated in the pole I, and the lining member 3 is secured within the groove 2 by fastening elements 3'.

Secured to the pole i at the upper end thereof is a socket member 6 which is of cylindrical shape at its lower end portion, as shown at to in Fig. 2, and the upper portion of the pole I is received within this lower cylindrical portion of said member 6 and is secured thereto. The upper end of the cylindrical lower portion of the member 6 is located at the top face of the pole l and above this point said member is shaped in cross-section as shown to the best advantage in Fig. 4, there being a shoulder 6 at the point where the lower cylindrical portion 6a of the member 6 meets the upper portion to thereof, and the top face of the pole l abuts against this shoulder. The upper portion 6b of the socket member 6 has an opening 1 formed vertically therein which is approximately circular in shape except for the presence of opposed grooves 8 and 8' and opposed grooves 9 and 9' which are formed in the wall of the member 6. The grooves 8, 8, 9, and 9, are of semicircular shape and open into the opening 1 of the member 6, said groove 8 being of slightly greater width than the other of said grooves. Formed in the upper portion of the member 5 in vetrical alinement with the grooves 9 and 9 is a pair of opposed recesses I!) which serve a purpose to be hereinafter set forth, said recessm being open at the upper edge of the member 6 and being ,extended downwardly a short distance from said upper edge.

Disposed within the opening I of the member 6 for vertical movement therein is an element Ii which in plan is shaped as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. In other words, the element H is relatively narrow and elongated in a horizontal direction and has formed thereon vertically. extended ribs l2 and I 2 which are of the approximate shape of the grooves 23 and 8', and extend into said grooves a shown in Fig.4. Because of the foregoing it is obvious that on movement of the element 1 I vertically of the member ii, the s l2 nd 2 move through the grooves 8 and s'to u de said element and cause same to move relative to the member 6 in a straight line, nonrotating manner. The element II has formed therein a cavity I4 which is shaped as shown to the best advantage in Figs. 2 and 4, and extended upwardly from the upper face of the element I, at opposite sides of said cavity, is a pair of opposed ears I5. Supported by the ears I5 is a clamp-engaging member I6 which includes a hook-shaped portion |6a and a tail portion I61), 2. portion of said clamp-engaging member I6 being disposed between the ears I5, and a pivot pin I1 being extended through an opening formed in said portion of the clamp-engaging member and being seated at its opposite ends in openings formed in said ears for attaching the clamp-engaging member to said ears for pivotal movement. The lower face of the element II has attached thereto by means of a screw I8 an upwardly extended leaf spring I9, the upper end portion of said leaf spring being arranged in contact with a face of said tail portion of the clamp-engaging member I6 at one side of the pivot pin I1 (see Fig. 2) so that said leaf spring tends to move the clamp-engaging member to its open position as shown in Fig. 8. As shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 the upper portion of the socket member 6 has formed therein an arcuate notch which is adapted to receive therein a portion of the clamp' engaging member IS, a portion of the wall of said notch engaging a face of the clamp-engaging member for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

Arranged in embracing relation with respect to the pole I of the clamp stick A is a tubular operating element 2|, said operating element 2| including an extension 22 (Fig. 5) which is projected inwardly from the wall of the element 2| so that its inner portion is disposed within the groove 2 of the pole The extension 22 is provided with a screwthreaded opening 23 which screwthreadedly receives the lower end portion of a connecting member 24 which is formed of wood or any other suitable material, the opposite end portion of said connecting member being screwthreadedly received within a screwthreaded opening 25 formed in the element I I (Figs. 2 and 5) and said connecting member being extended longitudinally of and partially within the groove 2 of the pole I. Because of this arrangement the element I I may be adjusted vertically relative to the member 6, upwardly or downwardly, by mov ing the operating element 2| in the desired direction with respect to the pole I, and with regard to such movement of the operating element 2| it is to be noted that said operating element at its lower end is provided'with a thickened portioni 28 that extends into the groove 2 of the pole I and which is adapted to abut against the top face of the stop 4 to limit downward movement of the operating element relative to the pole I. Additionally the portion 26 has formed therethrough a screwthreaded opening that receives the screwthreaded shank of a set screw 21, said set screw being adapted for manipulation to force the inner end of the shank portion thereof into gripping contact with the lining member 3 so as to lock the operating elementin which it may be adjusted.

Supported by the upper portion of the operating element 2| for rotary movement with respect thereto is a sleeve 28 which is preferably provided with an outstanding flange 28' at its upper end. The lower edge of the sleeve 28 contacts with an annular, horizontal face 29 formed on the operating element 2 I 35 of said sleeve 28 contact respectively with different positions to I and inner face portions 30 and faces 32 and 33 of the operating element 2|. As shown in Fig. 5 the lower portion of the wall of the sleeve 28 is reduced in thickness to provide a space 34 between adjacent portions of the operating element 2| and said sleeve 28 wherein a torsional coil spring 35 is disposed, one end portion of said torsional coil spring being anchored to the operating element 2|, as indicated at 35a in Fig. 5, and the opposite end portion of said coil spring being anchored to the sleeve 28 as indicated at 35b in said view, and said torsional coil spring being adapted to rotate the sleeve 28 in one direction. In order to limit rotary movement of the sleeve 28 relative to the operating element 2| in response to force exerted by the torsional coil spring 35, and in response to force manually applied to said sleeve, an elongated opening 36 is formed in the wall of said sleeve in which is disposed the outer portion of a pin 31 which is seated at its inner end in a screwthreaded aperture formed in the portion 22 of the operating element 2|. Obviously the opposed end walls of the opening 36 will contact with the pin 31 to limit rotary movement of the sleeve 28 in opposite directions.

The pole I has fixed thereto by screws 38 an abutment 38 whose lower face is adapted to be contacted by the upper face of the sleeve 28 to limit upward movement of the operating element 2| relative to the pole I under certain circumstances. In this regard it is to be noted that the sleeve 28 is provided with a notch 39 formed in the wall thereof, which is open at the inner face of said sleeve and at the top face thereof, said notch being extended a slight distance downwardly from the top face of the sleeve. Also it is to be noted that a corresponding notch 40 is formed in the upper portion of the wall of the operating element 2| as is shown to the best advantage in Fig. 5. The force exerted by the torsional coil spring 35 tends to rotate the sleeve 28 relative to the upper portion of the operating element 2| in one direction to the extent permitted by movement of a wall of the opening 36 into contact with the pin 31, and when the sleeve is so rotated the notch 39 is offset relative to the abutment 38 as shown in Fig. '1. As a result of the offset relation of the notch 33 and the abutment 38 upward movement of the operating element 2| relative to the pole I is limited by contact of a solid portion of the top face of the sleeve 28 with the lower face of the abutment 38. However, when it is desired to move the operating element 2| an additional distance upwardly relative to the pole I, the sleeve 28 may be rotated manually against the force exerted by the torsional coil spring 35 to bring the notch of said sleeve into alinement with the abutment 38 and with the notch 40 formed in the upper portion of the operating element, whereupon said operating element maybe subjected to such additional movement during which the walls of the notches 39 and 40 move relative to the abut- I ment 38.

ment with the lower edge of said tubular element 4|.

In describing the use of the improved clamp stick disclosed herein it will be assumed that a clamp stick to be employed is in the condition of the clamp stick shown in Fig. 1; that is to say with the hook-shaped portion I60. of the clampengaging member in a. closed position and with a solid portion of the top face of the sleeve 28 abutting against the lower face of the abutment 38. In order that the eye of a clamp may be engaged by the hook-shaped portion of the clampengaging member 16 this portion must be moved to its open condition as shown in Fig. 8 and this is accomplished by the operator manually rotatlng the sleeve 28 against the force exerted by the torsional coil spring 35 to aline the notch 39 with the abutment 38. The operating element may then be moved upwardly an additional distance and as a result of the additional movement of the operating element the element H is moved outwardly of the upper portion of the member 6 to project the clamp-engaging member IE to an outward position relative to the member 6 where the leaf spring l9 may swing said clamp-engaging member on its pivot I! to its open position as shown in Fig. 8. The hook-shaped portion of the clamp-engaging member I6 is then caused to engage the eye of the clamp which is to be applied to or removed from a conductor with the aid of the clamp stick, and the operating element 2| is then drawn downwardly relative to the pole I to move the clamp-engaging member to the closed position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The action of closing the clamp-engaging member when the operating element is moved downwardly as described is obtained by the outer face of the hookshaped portion of the clamp-engaging member being drawn against the base portion of the wall of the arcuate notch 20.

When the eye of the clamp has been engaged by the clamp-engaging member l6 and said clamp-engaging member has been moved to its closed position as described above a connection between the clamp and the clamp stick is provided which permits of substantially universal movement of the clamp stick. This permits the screw threaded operating element of the clamp, of which the eye engaged by the clamp stick forms a part, to be rotated to tighten or release the clamp even though the clamp stick extends downwardly from the operating element of the clamp at an angle with respect to a true alined position relative thereto. Also, when the clamp stick is being employed to operate a clamp as described there is no danger that the clamp-engagmg member It will be accidentally moved to the open position and thereby release the clamp, because of contact between the top face of the sleeve 28 and the lower face of the abutment 38, this being so because the clamp-engaging member l6 may only be released to the open position upon manual rotation of the sleeve 28 as has been previously explained herein.

In applying a clamp to an overhead electrical conductor it frequently is desirable to have the clamp mounted rigidly on-the clamp stick for convenient application of the clamp to the conductor. In the use of the improved clamp stick disclosed herein this may be accomplished by moving the operating element 2| downwardly to a sufiicient degree to draw the clamp-engaging member I6, and the operating element of the clamp engaged thereby, deep within the socket member 6 of the clamp stick (see Fig. 9). As a result of this situation a portion or portions of the body of the clamp will be drawn into seated relation within one or both of the recesses ill at the upper end of the member 6 to provide the desired rigid attachment to the clamp to the clamp stick. Additionally, because of the elongated nature of the member 6 suiiicient space is provided for the reception of clamp operating elements of various greater lengths.

I claim:

A clamp stick comprising a handle portion in the form of an elongated pole, a socket member supported by said pole at an end thereof, an element disposed Within said socket member for movement longitudinally thereof, a clamp-engaging member in the form of a hook which is pivotally supported by said element for such movement independently thereof as will cause an outer end portion of said clamp-engaging member to swing in an arc of a circle, said clamp-engaging member being movable by contact of a portion thereof into a portion of said socket member to a. position where a portion of said element cooperates with said end portion of said clamp-engaging member to close said clamp-engaging member and being movable to a position relative to said portion of said element where said clamp-engaging member is in an open position, resilient means which tends to move said clamp-engaging member to the open position, and operating means for moving said element to positions where said clamp-engaging member assumes said open and closed positions, said operating means comprising a tubular operating element which embraces said pole and is movable longitudinally thereof, a sleeve supported for rotary movement relative to said tubular operating element and having a notch formed in a portion thereof, an abutment fixed to said pole, said abutment being adapted to be contacted by a portion of said sleeve to limit upward movement relative to the pole of said sleeve and the operating element with which it is associated so as to retain the clamp-engaging member in its closed position and said sleeve being rotatable relative to the pole to cause the clamp-engaging member to assume its open position to aline the notch of said sleeve with said abutment to permit additional upward movement of said sleeve and said operating element with respect to the pole, means comprising a torsional coil spring which tends to move said sleeve in one direction, and means for limiting rotary movement of said sleeve.

WALTER A. HEINRICH. 

